Sip and Be Happy

Wine isn’t Just for Bottles Anymore. These Days, You Can Have Your Wine

…in plastic?

While not a mainstream vessel for wine, plastic wine bottles do exist. The concept seems harmless enough – take everything that you love about bottled wine and place it in a more durable, less breakable container. In reality, though, plastic wine bottles would find better use holding water as they have little purpose outside of an airline refrigerator. While it is said that plastic wine bottles promote “green” behavior by giving wine drinkers a recyclable alternative, let’s face it; Plastic bottles are more likely to end up in a dump than glass bottles, therefore nullifying any real benefit. Unless, of course, you are the type of person who breaks wine bottles on a regular basis, in which case we can suggest some better alternatives to wine storage, such as…

… in a can?

That’s right. Aluminum cans aren’t just for beer anymore. This is a more recent phenomenon within wine culture, and you are not likely to see this very often in American stores, but canned wine has grown in popularity in other areas of the world. The concept sounds goofy but there are some positives to canned wine. First, it’s convenient. No more corks and bottles, no more wine cellars; With canned wine, you can buy a twelve-pack, throw it in the fridge, and be good to go for your weekend. Furthermore, canned wine has been shown to have a high recycling rate amongst those who drink it. That said, canned wine is expensive as it is more or less a novelty. Furthermore, aluminum cans offer very little protection against heating, which can ruin a perfectly good drink. Because of this, we’re not entirely sold on wine in a can. It may be convenient for those who don’t wish to trifle with the traditional cork and bottle method, but if one wants convenience, one can always have their wine…

…in a bag?

Bagged and boxed wines can be found in almost any supermarket. Though they are not recyclable, wine bags are incredibly convenient to use and do a good job of blocking out sunlight. Like their canned counterparts, however, wine bags do not keep wine safe from fluctuations in temperature. Furthermore, other than bottled wine, wine bags are the easiest wine medium to find in mainstream American markets. If you don’t wish to go with the traditional cork and bottle, bagged wine is likely your best bet.

As for us, well, we’ll stick to the old cork and bottle. There’s many ways to have your wine, but when it comes right down to it, traditional methods really can be the best.

 

A little about us: Unicorn Wine Guild is a winery and wine resource center located in Belpre, OH. You can check out some of our wares at our online store. We're constantly updating and changing our internet specials, so be sure to keep checking back. Furthermore, you can follow us on Facebook here and receive regular updates. Cheers!

Spooky Sipping: Impress Your Friends with Halloween Wine Tasting

Do not mind the howling beneath the pale and gazing moon. It’s just the wind. We promise.

As the nights grow chill and dark and the eve of All Hallows nears, the time has come to hang the cobwebs, carve the pumpkin, and listen to the whisperings of ghoulish delight – preferably with doors locked tight – and raise a toast to all things that go bump in the night.

If you are planning on hosting a wine party around Halloween, you may consider spicing your gathering up by incorporating a few crafty thematic flourishes with both drinks and decorations. There are several inexpensive ways to spook up your party, here are a few ideas:

 Decorative Wine Bottles

This is a great option for homemade wine, as these generally come without labels; however, you can use any bottle or brand of wine for this. Simply remove the label and either print custom Halloween labels, or decorated your bottle accordingly. Your guests will appreciate it. There are plenty of crafting guides online, as is featured here. 

 

Spooky Spirits

If you plan on including spirits or other mixed drinks along with your wine, there are a plethora of thematic drink recipes online ranging from non-alcoholic punch to heavy-hitting zombies (for those with sturdy constitutions). There are whole websites dedicated to thematic drinks, so you should have no problem finding recipes for your party. Here is a page dedicated entirely to Halloween-themed drinks. 

 

Blood-Tingling Wine

If pressed for time, you can always purchase premade drink mixes for a special flare. Bloody Mary’s are always a great mixed drink for Halloween parties, and can be purchased in pre-mixed packs. Even wine has its own macabre line. The morbidly sweet Vampire wine brand comes bottled and ready to serve. You can check it out here. 

 

There are no limits when it comes to planning a Halloween party. You can borrow your party ideas from the internet, or plan your own creative endeavors. The most important thing to remember is that themed parties are meant to be fun – so have a blast! And remember, the glass is always half full!

 

A little about us: Unicorn Wine Guild is a winery and wine resource center located in Belpre, OH. You can check out some of our wares at our online store. We're constantly updating and changing our internet specials, so be sure to keep checking back. Furthermore, you can follow us on Facebook here and receive regular updates. Cheers!

 

Warm Wines for Chilly Months

The autumnal months serve as a natural paradigm shift. The temperature drops, the days shorten, and the leaves saturate with amber and deep crimson. The very flavors of the season change. What were once cool fruits shift to warm spice and food itself takes on a heavy, earthen quality. Even the drinks take on a warming quality, including wine.

Mulled wine is a classic beverage served during the winter and fall months, especially around the holidays. European in nature and stretching back into medieval times, mulled wine has traversed cultures and carries a couple dozen different names, depending on who you ask. There are several varieties and variations to the drink, though most carry the same basic elements. Generally speaking, mulled wines use either a red or white wine base. Beyond that, recipes generally call for adding orange or apple zest along with various amalgamations of wintry herbs and spices, including nutmeg, cloves, sugar, cinnamon, lemon, or other juices or beverages such as brandy or rum.

In the more northern European regions, Glogg is a popular traditional drink. Glogg, a cousin of mulled wine, is also served with red or white wine, though other fruit juices can be used in the concoction. Furthermore, Glogg may also be made from much stronger spirits such as brandy, rum, or more popularly, vodka. Again, this beverage is served hot for the best tastes.

Interested in cooking up a warm wine this holiday season? Here are some nifty recipes for mulled and spiced wine:

http://www.mulledwinerecipe.com/  - A great website for all things mulled wine.

http://homecooking.about.com - A traditional Swedish Glogg.

 

A little about us: Unicorn Wine Guild is a winery and wine resource center located in Belpre, OH. You can check out some of our wares at our online store. We're constantly updating and changing our internet specials, so be sure to keep checking back. Furthermore, you can follow us on Facebook here and receive regular updates. Cheers!

 

Bottling Your Homemade Wine

At last, your work has come to fruition. You’ve spent several hours on your preparatory work, ensuring that the fermentation process goes smoothly. You’ve measured your yeast and sugar. You’ve waited patiently for over a month and now the wine is ready for bottling.

Now what?

Well, the next step would, of course, be to bottle your wine. Sounds simple, no? Well, as it turns out, the bottling process requires a bit more finesse than one might think. For example, if your wine is not yet properly fermented or lacks sulphites, the wine may fall victim to spoilage. Sulphites prevent oxidation which can turn a good wine sour. Furthermore, you want your wine to be free of any carbon dioxide, as carbon dioxide saturation can expand, potentially breaking the bottles. On the flip side of this, carbonation may also leave you with a sparkling wine. If this sounds up your alley, then by all means go ahead and leave the carbonation as is. But for the sake of this article, we will continue on with the traditional wine bottling process.

One may do away with excessive carbon dioxide by stirring it out of the wine. This may be done by adding chemicals that act as fining agents and stirring until the bubbles in the wine dissipate. If you decide to work without fining agents, be sure to double-check the wine and make sure it is rid of any carbon dioxide.

Next, clean and sanitize your bottles completely. If there is dirt or residue at the bottom of the wines, even if it is just a miniscule amount, dissolve it. You can get rid of underlying dirt and gunk by soaking the bottles in a chemical solutions or rinse them with soap and hot water until not trace of dirt or other residue is left. You will also want to rinse out your bottles with a sulphite solution before bottling your wine. This prevents any potential growth of organisms within the bottle.

Now that your bottles are clean, you may begin bottling your homemade wine. You will need a siphoning apparatus, namely a hose and rod. Furthermore, siphon fillers are optimal tools that allow for a balanced filling process. It can also prevent wine spillage.

Once you’ve properly siphoned your wine into the bottle, you can cork them. Now, corks vary in quality and size and there is a direct correlation between the quality of the cork and the quality of the wine as it ages. If you plan on drinking your wine soon after bottling, then a shorter cork will suffice; however, if you wish to wait six months or longer to drink your wine, go ahead and spend the extra money on a higher-end cork. Your taste buds will thank you.

Now your wine is finished. You can store homemade wine in a cool, dry place, such as a wine cellar, until you are ready to drink it. So sit back, pull out a good book, crack open that bottle of homemade wine and enjoy the fruits of your labors. And remember, the glass is always half-full.

A little about us: Unicorn Wine Guild is a winery and wine resource center located in Belpre, OH. You can check out some of our wares at our online store. We're constantly updating and changing our internet specials, so be sure to keep checking back. Furthermore, you can follow us on Facebook here and receive regular updates. Cheers!